My My Hey Hey

About This Lesson

Neil Young's haunting acoustic opener from the 1979 album Rust Never Sleeps is a masterclass in atmosphere built from very few moving parts. The whole song hangs off a small handful of chords played with a strong, simple right-hand groove.

In this multipart lesson Neil shows you how to capture the brooding feel, the dynamic shifts and the rhythm-guitar phrasing that make this song so memorable.

What You'll Learn

• The simple but effective chord progression in A minor
• Right-hand strumming pattern with strong accents
• How to use dynamics to build tension across verses
• The connective hammer-on figures that decorate the changes
• Tips for nailing the brooding, hypnotic feel of the original

Skill Level

Beginner to intermediate. The chord shapes are easy — the magic is in the feel.